“They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes, drums… drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow lurks in the dark. We can not get out… they are coming.”

In my efforts to slowly but surely brainwash my nephew into being a geek, I’ve gradually been introducing him to Tolkien.

First, I gave him a copy of The Hobbit. Then I let him watch the first of the Lord of the Rings movies. I even agreed to watch with him the Rankin-Bass cartoon of The Hobbit. (It’s not as bad as I remembered. Peter Jackson could learn a thing or two about brevity from that adaptation.)

Then, for his latest birthday, his 10th, after clearing it with his parents, I went deep into the mines. I made him search for his presents, via a riddle game/scavenger hunt inspired by Bilbo and Gollum. My nephew had to solve one clue, which led him to the next clue, which led him to the next, which finally led him to his birthday prize: a fancy, illustrated hardcover edition of The Hobbit, and a Lego Mines of Moria set. A geek he is becoming. Continue Reading “Speak ‘Friend’ and Eat It: Making a Lord of the Rings Mines of Moria Birthday Cake” »